Leather compacting and burnishing machine



16, 1951 J. J. MACIEJOWSKI EI'AL 2,571,149

LEATHER COMPACTING AND BURNISHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1949 wi k Wm/ma Maw 0m vwM n mwwmmt fiwm t- 16, 1 J. J. MACIEJOWSKI ETAL 2,571,149

LEATHER COMPACTING AND BURNISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Inuen furs 'JfmJ. Macz'ea'owski 1951 J. J. MACIEJOWSKI EIAL 2,571,149

I LEATHER COMPACTING AND BURNISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 \90 (J6 33/ x 324 22 D 3% 333 I J22 &

in van furs John J Mame/o Ws/ri Richard WDameZgJr- QB filer/72f 6y Oct. 16, 1951 J. J. MACIEJOWSKI ETAL 2,571,149

LEATHER COMPACTING AND BURNISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 m \QQ WJ m m wmw I m a r .:J v Q E .w 3 mm R www www QM w Oct. 16, 1951 J. J. MACIEJOWSKI EI'AL LEATHER COMPACTING AND BURNISHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 26, 1949 fiwenfam JBhrpf Maoieu'ows/vi Rio/who" WDanZeZgJF D Z r imlrzeg provided with two end castings I and I2 which are rigidly attached to and supported on three horizontal channel bars I4, I6 and I8 (Fig. 2) extending from side to side and beneath the machine. The upper end of the casting I0 has an overhanging lip 20 whichextends inwardly and the casting I2 has an opposed and inwardly extending lip 22. Beneath the opposed lips 20 and 22 is mounted an upper horizontal casting 24 which is attached to the casting I0 by three bolts 26 (Fig. 2) and to the casting I2 by three bolts 28 (Fig. 3). Between the lip 20 and the casting 24 is a wedge shaped member 30. A similar wedge member 30 (Fig. 4) is located between the lip 22 and the right end of the casting 24. Each wedge member 30 is provided with a slot 32 (Fig. 2) through which a, tightening screw 34 is arranged to pass. threaded into the block 24 and is provided with a small hand wheel 36 bearing a hub 38 which is adapted to rest on the top of the lip portion or 22 for a purpose to be described.

The horizontal casting 24 has a depending vertical portion 40 (Fig. 4) extending transversely of the machine and from the casting I0 to the casting I2. The portion 40 includes triangular shaped end walls M (Fig. 2) and 45 (Fig. 4). Twenty equally spaced and vertically placed pins 42 are threaded into the top of the casting24 at each side of the depending portion 40. It will be noted (Fig. 5) that the pins 42 in the front row are in staggered relation with the pins 42 in' the back row. Each pin 42 is slotted at 44f'to receive a locking bar 46. There are eight of these locking bars 46, as the pins 42 and their associated parts are arranged in eight groups with five pins in each group. There are two short pins 41 (Fig. 5) driven through holes provided in each bar 46 to prevent the latter from being displaced. Each vertical pin 42 has an-annular shoulder 43 and also a lower and reduced end portion 48, the latter serving to prevent horizontal displacement of a coil spring 50.

Bolts 52 (Figs. 4 and 6) are utilized at each side of the depending portion 40 to hold four anvil retaining castings 54 in position. There are eight such castingsone for each group of fiveanvils. Each casting 54 is bored for the reception of five cylindrical sleeve inserts 56 (Fig. 4) and these serve as guiding means for anvils 60. In the preferred construction each anvil 60 is cylindrical for the major portion of its length and carries a rectangular flange 62 of such dimensions that the five flanges 62 of each casting 54 are in abutting relation with one side of each flange in contact with a vertical surface of the casting 54; It will be understood that each oftheanvils 60 is in alinement with a pin 42. Each anvil 60 is recessed freely to receive the major portion of one of the coil springs 50. A gasket I0 of resilient shock-absorbing material, such as rubber or neoprene impregnated fabric, is inserted between each flange 62 and the casting 54. The lower end of each tool or anvil 60 is narrowed down as clearly depicted in Figs. 4 and 6 to present an elongated work contacting or compacting surface with a width as measured in the direction of feed that is smaller than the width of the work contacting surface of each opposing tool hereinafter to be described. All edges of the lower end of the anvil 60 are smoothly rounded oil to prevent damage to or marking of leather coming in contact with them and Figs. 4'

and 6 show that the anvil contours are curved Each screw 34, is i to provide proper concentration of pressure upon the work, particularly as considered in the direction of feed.

A horizontal work guiding plate 12 with upturned edges is mounted immediately below the eight castings 54, and this plate 12 is supported from the depending portion 40 by means of ears I4 and bolts 16 (Fig. 4). The arrangement is such that each anvil 60 is free of the plate 12 (because of the clearance provided) for motion with relation to that plate.

The top of the horizontal casting 24 is provided with two cylindrical bosses (Fig. 1) and one centrally located and elongated boss 82 (Fig. 5). The boss 82 is provided with an undercut slot 84 adapted to receive the head of a vertical bolt 86. A hand wheel is threaded onto the bolt 86 and has a hub 92 which is arranged to bear downwardly against the overlapping inner ends of two transversely extending bars I00 and I02 (Fig. 1). Each of the last mentioned bars is provided with a slot I03 (Fig. 5) through which bolt 86 passes. The bar I00 is pivoted on a bolt I04 which is threaded into one of the bosses 80. The bar I02 is pivoted on a bolt I06 (Fig. 1) which is threaded into the other boss 80. The outer end of the bar I00 is connected to the left end wedge member 30 by a ball-and-socket joint IIO (Fig. 5). The bar I02 is connected to the Wedge member 30 at the right end of the machine by a similar socket joint II2 (Fig. 1).

A second horizontal work guiding plate herein shown as II4 (Figs. 4 and 6) is mounted beneath and in spaced relation with the plate I2 to define-a passage for work being fed through the machine in a spread-out condition and in a path contiguous to the anvils 60. The front and rear edges of the plate I I4 are bent downwardly to a slight extent as seen in Fig. 4 and the plate is provided with ears or lugs IIB through which bolts II8 are passed to attach the plate above and in spaced relation to a main casting I20 (Figs. 1 and 4) of the machine. The plate II 4 has holes I 22 in alinement with the anvils 60.

The main casting I20 per se is an open-ended box-like structure. It is provided with end flanges I24 and I26 (Fig. 1) through which bolts I28 are passed for holding the casting in position upon and in sealed-relation with the end castings I0 and I2. The upper wall I30 (Fig. 4) of the casting I20 is arranged to receive forty compacting members I32 for vertical reciprotion. Each of the compacting members I32 has a flat head I34 having rounded edges-which is adapted freely to pass through one of the holes I22 in the plate H4. The work contacting area of the head I34 is larger than that of the opposing tool or anvil 60. Each compacting member I32 is recessed at I36 to reduce weight and bears transverse vents I38 as well as cut-out portions I40 to promote lubrication. The bottom end of each compacting member I34 is slotted to form two depending ears through which a pin I42 is passed. There is one pin I42 for each set of five compacting members I32. A link I44 is pivoted on the pin I42 for each of the compacting members I32 and the bottom end of, each" link is pivoted on a shaft I46 passing through extending portions of one of two arms I50 which are parts of a casting I52 pivotally mounted on a shaft I 54. I As seen in Figs. 4 and 6, there is a casting I52 for each group of ten compacting'members I32 and one arm I50 for each set of five compacting members. The ends of the shaft I54 are mounted on the endcastings II and I2, as will be understood. Each casting I52 has a third or a downwardly inclined arm I56 through which a pin I60 passes and upon which an arm I62 is adapted to pivot. This arm I62 is a. portion of a cylindrical member I64 (Fig. 4) forming part of an eccentric arrangement I66. mounted on the shaft I68. The shaft I68 is keyed to the eccentric arrangement in such a. way that the relation of the eccentric to the compacting members may be adusted to four angular positions.

Two cooperating rolls I and I12 are mounted on the front of the machine with the bite of those rolls just in front of the work receiving space or passage between the horizontal plates 12 and H4. The. roll I10 is uppermost and is mounted in conventional bearing blocks located on the end castings I0 and I2. This roller I10 is provided with a surface layer of yielding material I14 such as rubber. The roller I12 bears a hard or polished steel surface I16 and is journaled in the upper ends of arms I80 and I82. The

arm I80 is pivoted by means of an eccentric adjusting device I86 to the end casting III. The arm I82 is pivoted on a similar device I86 to the casting I2. The center of the device I88 is not in the same plane as are the centers of the rolls I10, I12 and for this reason a toggle action is provided for closing the rolls. Straightening of the toggle is approached when the roll I12 is swung toward the front of the machine. Such swinging i effected by springs I96 two of which are mounted to abut a shoulder (not shown) on each of the end castings I0 and I2.

Similar cooperating rolls are mounted on the rear of the machine and the upper roll I64 is covered with yielding rubber-like material. The lower roll I96 is smooth surfaced and is preferably of steel and is mounted on arms I98 and I99 pivoted on eccentric adjusting device 260 so that swinging of the roll I96 toward the front of the machine will tend to close the bite of the rolls and straighten the toggle arrangement. Four springs 202 are used to urge the roll I96 forwardly.

A plate 2I0 (Fig. 2) is bolted to the front portion of the casting member I0 and a similar plate 2I2 (Fig. 3) is bolted to the casting I2 and these plates serve to support a table 2I3 which is arranged in inclined position on the machine with its upper and rearmost edge close to the bite of the rolls I10 and I12. A sheet metal member 2I4 (Fig. l) is mounted in front of the roller I10 and above and in spaced relation with the rear and upper edge of the table 2I2.

A motor 306 (Fig. 1) is mounted on the horizontal base members or channel bars I4 and I6, and its shaft is arranged to drive a sprocket 302 which in turn drives a chain 304 and a sprocket 306 keyed to the shaft 308 of the upp r and rearroller I94. The other end of the roller I94 is provided with a stub shaft 3I0 (Fig. 1) to which is keyed a sprocket 3 I 2. The sprocket 3I2 is in engagement with a chain 3I4 which serves to drive a sprocket 3I6 attached to the shaft SIB of the roller I10. Pivoted near the top of the end casting I2 and at 320 and 322 (Fig. 3) are two horizontal arms 324 and 326. The arm 324 is urged upwardly by springs 33!) (Fig. 2) and the arm 326 is urged upwardly by springs 332. At the outer end of the arm 324, two sprockets 33I are pivoted and at the outer end of the arm 326 are pivoted two sprockets 333. Two chains 340 are arranged to be driven by the sprockets- 33I and engage the teeth of sprockets 342 (Fig.

1) which are arranged to rotate together with the sprocket 3I6 and the chains 340 also pass around a .pair'of sprockets 344 attached to the shaft 346 of the roller I12. Two chains 350 are in engagement with the sprockets 333 and engage the teeth of prockets 352 (Fig. 3) which are adapted-to rotate with the sprocket 3I2. The chains 350 also pass around a pair of sprockets 354 and thereby drive the rear lower roller I96.

A second motor 400 is mounted in the base of the machine and through multiple pulleys 402, 464 and cooperating belts 406 is arranged to rotate the main drive shaft I68 thereby bringing about the reciprocation of the forty compacting members I32.

The main casting I20 is attached (preferably with gaskets interposed) to the end castings I0 and I2 and serves as a reservoir for lubricating oil and the rapid revolution of the eccentrics I66 upon rotation of the shaft I68 causes suflicient splashing action to effectually lubricate areas subject to friction such as the exterior vertical wall surfaces of the reciprocating compasting members I32.

With the. construction shown there is a predetermined minimum clearance betwen the flat tops .of the compacting members I32 and the bottoms of the anvils 60. It will be appreciated that the adjustment of this clearance is critical and for this reason the wedge members are provided. If the bolts 26, 28 and the hand wheels 36 and 90 are loosened the threaded rod 86 may be pushedforwardly or rearwardly and thereby move the wedges 30 in unison and to the same extent. When the adjustment of the casting 4.0

is effected then the hand wheels 90 and 36 may compacting members I32 are in alinement with the pins 42 and are therefore also in staggered relation. I The purpose of such relation is obvious to make the action .of the compacting members effective across the full width of each work piece passed through the machine.

With some types of leather and for particular uses it may be'preferred that a group of the compacting members should be effective as aunit. In such event a construction such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be preferred. Each compactingfmember may include a number of vertically reciprocable intermediate plungers 420 and end plungers 422. These plungers are sub-E stituted for the compacting members I32 of Figs. 4 and 6 and a row of the plungers (in groups of five, twenty or any other number) are joined together by a horizontal fiat bar or member 424. All the plungers are provided with undercut slots 426 into which T projections 428 (for the plungers 420) and 430 (for the end plungers 422) are adapted to be received. The T projections are integral with the bar 424. Each end plunger 422 is bored as at 432 to receive a headed pin 434 with its head extending into a slot 436 formed in a T projection 430. It will be understood that the plungers 420, 422} the bar 424 and the pins 434 are assembled as a unit prior to insertion .of the plungers into the casting I20.

With this type of construction one bar 424 mayv be used in place of the twenty separate compacting members I32 in the front or rear row or two bars 424 may be used to take the place of all forty compacting members I32. Variations in this regard will depend upon the type of work and the sizes of work pieces to be treated.

In operating the machine the workman presents a hide in spread-out condition over the table 2 I3 and, assuming that the motors 300 and 400 are in operation, he presents the leading edge of the work piece W (Fig. 4) to the bite of the rolls I and I12 with the grain side down and in contact with the smooth steel surface I16 of the roll I12. The arrangement of the driving mechanism is such that the upper rolls I10 and I94 rotate relatively slowly and determine the rate at which the work piece W is fed through the machine. The driving mechanism is such that the surface of the steel roller H2 is driven at less feet per minute than the surface of the roller I10 and this brings about a burnishing action with respect to the grain surfaceof the work piece. As the work piece is interposed and passed between the compacting members I32 and the anvils 60 the compacting members operate with a predetermined length of stroke which is not affected by varying characteristics such as localized soft spots in the leather. The work piece W is guided through the machine and discharged by the rolls I94 and I96. The lower rolls I12 and I96 bring about the burnishing and general smoothing action of the grain surface 1 and the compacting members I32 do the major portion of the work in compressing the leather.

With the machine illustrated, and for the treatment of sole leather, best results have been obtained using a clearance of se between each anvil 60 and its corresponding compacting member I32, a speed of 1900 R. P. M. for the shaft I68,

and a feed speedof about 30 feet per minute with the lower rolls having a 10% slower surface speed than the upper rolls. The spring loading will be varied dependent upon the type of leather being treated. -With sole leather and an anvil of l-idiameter of the design illustrated, a suitable spring preloading for that anvil has been found to be 400 pounds.

It will be noted that no feeling devices are required to adapt the machine for treatment of a particular work piece. As above referred to, the maximum extent of action of the compacting member or members is definitely predetermined and is unaffected by soft spots in the work. The latter characteristic of the machine gives control of the operation and is conducive to uniformity in the Work done. The lubricated parts of the machine are located below the work treatment zone and the arrangementof the elements such as plate H4 is such that lubricating oil will not contact or mar the leather finish.

he steel rolls I12 and I86 have a burnishing effect on the grain side of the hide W and the result is not adversely affected by the action of the compacting members I32 as the major portion of the compacting is done from the flesh side of the work. This is due to the relative proportions given to the work contacting areas of the anvils and the compacting members. Actually, and in the machine illustrated, the compacting members serve as backing members and the anvils do the indenting or compacting from the flesh'side of the work. Obviously an arrangement opposite to this may be had and such concept falls within the scope of the present invention. It is clear that, in all cases, the indenting for compacting purposes should be on the flesh side of the work and the burnishing rolls should contact the grain side.

Having described our invention, that we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for compacting and burnishing hides, a frame, anvil means on said frame, reciprocable means associated in cooperative relation with said anvil means and having a length of stroke terminating short of said anvil means, and means for feeding a spread-out work piece in a path leading between said anvil means and said reciprocable means, said feeding means comprising two cooperating rolls adapted to be driven at different speeds and one of said rolls having a surface of yielding material for engaging one side of said work piece and the other roll having a hard and smooth surface for burnishing the other side of said work piece.

2. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, anvil means on and yieldable with respect to said frame, vertically reciprocable means arranged beneath and in cooperative relation with said anvil means and having a predetermined length of stroke terminating short of said anvil means to give a definite clearance space, parallel and spaced work-guiding plates arranged on said frame, one of said plates being immediately above and the other immediately below said space, and means for feeding a spread-out work piece between said plates and into said space for compacting by and between said anvil means and said reciprocable means.

3. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, anvil means on and yieldable with respect to said frame, reciprocable means arranged below and in cooperative relation with said anvil means, said reciprocable means having a predetermined length of stroke terminating short of said anvil means, and a cooperating set of work feeding rolls in front and also in back of the machine to feed a work piece in a path leading between said anvil means and said reciprocable'means.

4. In a machine for compacting and burnishing hides, a frame, anvil means on and yieldable with respect to said frame, reciprocable members arranged below and in cooperative relation with said anvil means and having a predetermined length of stroke terminating short of said anvil means to give a definite clearance space, a horizontal work guiding plate mounted immediately below said clearance space, and means for feeding and discharging a spread-out work piece through said clearance space, said work feeding and discharging means comprising two sets of cooperating rolls, each of said sets having an upper roll with a surface material for engaging the work without slippage and a lower roll with a smooth and hard surface to produce a burnishing effect on the work.

5. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, anvil means on said frame, reciprocable compacting means arranged below and in cooperative relation with said anvil means and extending across the machine the full width of a work piece to be treated, and cooperating work feeding rolls to feed a work piece in a path leading between said anvil means and said reciprocable means, one feeding roll having a surface of yielding material and another roll arranged to cooperate with said one feeding roll and having a hard surface.

6. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, anvil means and reciprocable compacting means extending in cooperative relation across the machine frame the full width of a work piece to be treated, a set of work feeding rolls in front and also in back of said machine to feed work along a path leading between said anvil means and said reciprocable means, the upper roll of each set being fixed in position on said frame and having a surface of yielding material, the lower roll of each set having a hard surface, and means for supporting and urging each of said lower rolls yieldingly upward into cooperative relation with its corresponding upper roll.

7. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame,

anvil means on said frame, reciprocable compacting means arranged in cooperative relation with said anvil means and extending across the machine the full width of a work piece to be treated, a cooperating set of work feeding rolls located at each side of the said anvil and compacting means and arranged to feed a work piece in a path leading between said anvil means and said compacting means, one roll of each of said sets having a hard surface to give a burnished efiect on the grain side of the work and the work contacting areas of the anvil means and compacting means being so proportioned that the major portion of the compacting is done from the flesh side.

8. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, multiple work treating tools on said frame comprising anvils and reciprocable members, said members being arranged to oppose and cooperate with said anvils, means for feeding a spread-out work piece in a path contiguous to said anvils, some of said tools having work contacting surfaces of curved contour with narrow portions of said surfaces being flat and extending transverse to and at one side of said path and the opposed tools having relatively broad and substantially fiat work contacting surfaces arranged on the other Side of said path.

9. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for feeding a spread-out work piece in a path leading through the machine, at least one row of anvils resiliently mounted on and with respect to said frame and said row being arranged transversely and contiguous to said path, and reciprocable means with a predetermined length of stroke terminating short of said anvils, said anvils and reciprocable means being effective on the full area of said work piece as the latter is fed through the machine.

10. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for feeding a spreadout work piece in a path leading through the machine, a row of anvils resiliently mounted on and with respect to said frame and arranged transversely and contiguous to said path, reciprocable means with a predetermined length of stroke terminating short of said anvils, the work contacting area of the anvils and reciprocable means being small on one side of said path and larger on the other side, and said anvils and reciprocable means extending the full width of the work piece.

11. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for feeding a spreadout work piece in a path leading through the machine, a reciprocable flat bar arranged transverse and contiguous to said path, a row of resiliently mounted anvils arranged in cooperative relation with said bar and on the opposite side of said path, the said anvils having work contacting surfaces with a width as measured in the direction of feed which is smaller than that of the work contacting surface of the said bar.

12. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for feeding a spreadout work piece in a path leading through the machine, tools on said frame comprising reciprocable flat bars arranged transverse to and at one side of said path and anvils arranged in 00- operative relation with said bars and at the other side of said path, each of said anvils having a work contacting surface with 'a width as measured in the direction of feed that is smaller than the width of the work contacting surface on the bar cooperating with that anvil.

13. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for guiding a spread-out work piece along a desired path, a row of tools at one side of said path and transverse thereto, each of said tools having a work contacting surface of curved contour in the direction of feed, a member with a flat work contacting surface of greater width mounted in cooperative relation with said row of tools and at the other side of said path, and means for reciprocating the tools and member relatively for compacting the said work piece as it is fed in said path.

14. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for guiding a spreadout work piece along a desired path, rows of resiliently mounted anvils with work contacting surfaces of curved contour arranged transverse to said path and at one side thereof, and reciprocating members at the other side of said path having flat surfaces opposed to said anvils, each of the said flat surfaces being wider as measured in the direction of feed than each of the similarly measured work contacting surfaces on the said anvils.

JOHN J. MACIEJOWSKI. RICHARD W. DANIELS, J 11.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7,924 Jones Feb. 4, 1851 185,477 Bigelow Dec. 19, 1876 443,896 Chalkey Dec. 30, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 600,511 Germany July 28, 1934 836,644 France Oct. 17, 1938 

